Track pad recommendations
 

hello everyone! first post, but i've been lurking for a while. Looking for opinions from the track folks here to guide me in the right direction.

I've recently installed the akebono brakes on my g35 coupe and I am in search for a set of track pads. After a bit of searching I am seeing a lot of people running the XP10/XP8 combo front and rear on their Z's.

However, my vehicle packs quite a bit more weight, coming in at 3600lbs I'm not sure whether I should shell out the extra bit and step it up to XP12 and XP10 front/rear. what do you all think?

Anyone have experience with winmax pads? I'm also looking into those as an option other than carbotech.

winmax is really good but I haven't ran it on the Z, a lot of S2K guys run winmax w5/w6 with good success but that's a much lighter car

I run xp10/8 on the Z and sometimes I get brake fade, mostly because of shitty cooling I suppose, and for some reason there's always a bunch of debris left on my rotors every session. I'm stepping up to 12/10 and see if that helps



side note: looks like you're in the bay area, hope to see you around the tracks here! I rarely ever see Zs and Gs at track days

Great to hear that winmax pads are good. I'll definitely look into them more.

Sounds like I might just make the jump and go straight for the xp12/10 combo or the winmax equivalent if you're also experiencing some brake fade (considering my car is ~300lbs heavier).

While my stock calipers were on, I had XP10s in front and they were smearing on my rotor towards the end of the session at t-hill west, but i also had tiny 12" rotors prior to the akebonos.

You're right, there aren't very many of us out in the norcal tracks!
I'll definitely come say hi if I run into you...or will you be at the svzg summit run? :driving:

Have you try same compound front and rear?

I am in the Bay as well, probably do a few track days this year. I mostly autox with SCCA and AAS in a BRZ, but probably bring the Z out more this year

yeah looks like carbotech smearing is common? i end up getting hella vibrations when i brake and I checked my rotors, they're not warped or anything.

I think W6 is the equivalent

I want to come to the summit event but last time I was there I almost lost my bumper because of scraping, but I will try to make it out to Livermore for food after

I haven't tried using the same compound front and rear. Previously, my pad setup was XP10 in front and P.mu HC+ in the rear, I keep the p.mu on even for street driving and would just swap front pads after track days. I do have a 2.5" duct going to each front wheel to help cool things down, but even with that sometimes the fade is still a little scary.

There are a number of threads on bake pads for the street and track. I would make sure that you check all the braking to due list before jumping to a real aggressive track only pad. I run x10 front and x8 rear. My Z weighs 3450 with a full tank of fuel and me in it. I have brake cooling ducts, ss brake lines, z1 two piece rotors and use Castro SRF racing brake fluid. I have yet to have any brake fade. I am not the fastest in the advanced group but I am not the slowest. Having an over aggressive pad can lead to ice mode which is every bit as scary as having no brake or fade and they will eat your rotors in one or two track days. I'm not saying x12/10 or 12/8 will not work for you just that when all the boxes are checked with the right upgrades it may not be necessary.

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I ran Winmax W6.5 F/R on my z with re71r, they were fantastic, bites hard, works well with little heat, and didn't fade.

Currently I use XP10/8 combo as well, very great pads and they are quieter than winmax.

Now, I am between getting XP12 F/R, MX72 F/R or winmax again. I am looking for better initial bite, and I feel it will be better for trail-braking if I got the same compound for fronts and rears. ;)

Got a Deja Vu after reading that :rofl2:

I got ice mode in street with W6.5, as I use the car with all assets, which resulted in an accident before two years. In track, I didn't experience it with Yaw sensor mod.

Ice mode applies to g35 as well?

I appreciate the pointers, you're definitely right. There's a lot more to the equation than just the pads. The reason I put up a thread was to get more opinions and insight from drivers due to my car being a G and packing an additional 300lbs over the z34.

I'll do some more reading before I place an order. wouldn't want to buy track pads twice lol.

Yes, nothing different about the braking systems!

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I have only heard good things about Endless brakes other than the cost lol.

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Oh yeah, I remember that! Track pads need heat in them and driving with them on the street can lead to big trouble as you found out. Hopefully we have someone from doing the same thing after read our posts.

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I use XP8's all around. You do have to pay attention while driving on the interstate in the cold or rain. All I do is just tap the brakes from time to time. More so if cold and raining. The XP10's up front may be fine for street driving. Not sure. It is easy to make a blunder, you have to be on your game.